In 1992, it seemed as if the royal family could not rest for scandal and disaster.

That year, Prince Andrew separated from Sarah Ferguson, while Princess Anne split from Captain Mark Philips.

The Firm was rocked by the revelations of Andrew Morton’s blockbuster tell-all, Diana:

Her True Story and the unhappy marriage of the Prince and Princess of Wales continued to dominate tabloid headlines.

And on top of everything, a raging fire ripped through Windsor Castle, destroying 115 rooms in the process.

It wasn’t for nothing that the late Queen Elizabeth dubbed that fateful year her ‘annus horribilis’ – and, in many ways, 2024 was an unwelcome repeat for the new monarch, King Charles. In February, the King was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, treatment for which is still ongoing, while his daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, faced her own battle with the disease.

Meanwhile, relations between the family and Prince Harry became increasingly strained, with a series of messy stories hitting the headlines: the Prince contesting in court the decision to decrease his police protection; his wife, Meghan Markle, coming up against yet more accusations of staff bullying; and the couple’s dwindling popularity, both here and across the pond. Add to that a fresh scandal connecting Prince Andrew to an alleged Chinese spy (and the King’s brother’s awkward refusal to vacate Royal Lodge) and it would be no understatement to say that 2024 was one of the most difficult years ever faced by the royal family.

Now, however, the horizon looks markedly brighter. This year kicked off with birthday celebrations for Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, who turned 60 on 20 January and marked the milestone occasion with a rather special get-together. The Duchess, who is often referred to as the family’s ‘secret weapon’ for her quiet sense of duty, invited a select gathering to Bagshot Park, the home she shares with Prince Edward (her husband of more than 25 years).